CAG Flags Safety Concerns and Cost Overruns in Mumbai Coastal Road Project
The Mumbai Coastal Road project, one of the city’s most ambitious infrastructure ventures, has come under serious scrutiny after the Comptroller and Auditor General (CAG) flagged major concerns regarding safety standards, escalating costs, and questionable construction quality. The draft audit, covering the years 2020 to 2024, focuses on the 10.5-kilometre stretch connecting Nariman Point to the Bandra-Worli Sea Link.
Inauguration Before Safety Tests Were Completed
According to the audit findings, the road was inaugurated before completing vital safety protocols, including final ‘Testing and Commissioning’ procedures and setting up an ‘Operation and Maintenance’ framework for the Defect Liability Period (DLP). The premature inauguration has raised alarms about the actual readiness and safety of the infrastructure at the time it was opened to the public.
Early Structural Flaws and Temporary Repairs
Within just three months of its opening, serious issues began surfacing, including water leakage from the walls of the southbound tunnel. The source of the seepage was traced to problems with expansion joints, indicating lapses in construction integrity. Rather than pursuing a long-term engineering solution, authorities reportedly opted for a quick fix by injecting cement into the cracks—a measure that experts warn is inadequate for sustained structural health.
Project Costs and Contractor Gains Under Scrutiny
The CAG report also points to massive cost escalations, with the total project expenditure reaching ₹13,000 crore. The audit notes instances where contractors were granted undue benefits, suggesting irregularities in contract execution and financial oversight. Such findings have reignited debates over accountability and transparency in large-scale urban projects.
Civic Body’s Response
A senior official from the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) defended the civic body’s actions, asserting that all norms were followed and quality work was ensured. The official also mentioned that the BMC has submitted its detailed responses to the CAG’s observations and that these would be incorporated into the final report.
The CAG’s draft report highlights systemic issues in the execution of the coastal road project and reinforces the urgent need for stringent regulatory compliance, better planning, and thorough safety evaluation before infrastructure projects are declared complete and operational. As Mumbai continues to expand its coastal infrastructure, the findings serve as a cautionary note on the cost of haste and the importance of public safety.
